Global Cybersecurity Spending Set to Surge by 15% in 2025, Driven by AI and Cloud Services
According to recent forecasts from Gartner, global cybersecurity spending is expected to surge by over 15% in 2025, reaching an unprecedented $212 billion. This substantial increase is primarily fueled by the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and a growing demand for cloud and consultancy services.
Key Drivers of Cybersecurity Investment Growth
The expanding role of AI, particularly generative AI (GenAI), is prompting organisations to significantly enhance their security measures across various domains, including application security, data protection, privacy management, and network infrastructure defence. Gartner projects that by 2027, GenAI elements will be involved in 17% of cyberattacks or data breaches, underscoring the urgent need for increased investment in security.
Cloud security spending is expected to experience notable growth, with expenditures on cloud access security brokers and cloud workload protection platforms anticipated to rise from $6.7 billion in 2024 to $8.7 billion in 2025. This trend reflects the growing reliance on cloud services and the critical need to secure these environments.
The persistent shortage of cybersecurity skills continues to drive up spending on consulting, professional services, and managed security solutions, as organizations seek external expertise to bolster their defences.
Industry Insights on Rising Cybersecurity Challenges
Commenting on the projected rise in spending, Achi Lewis, Area VP EMEA for Absolute Software, stated: “The increased global spending on cybersecurity is no surprise. Our Cyber Resilience Report states how over half (54%) feel their organization’s security team is unprepared for evolving AI-powered threats, highlighting the need to increase cyber budgets in order to keep up with the increasing misuse of AI."
Lewis emphasized the need for proactive measures in the face of complex, AI-driven cyber threats. "Eighty-five percent of CISOs are sending their C-Suite on AI training courses as AI-driven cyber threats continue to advance in complexity. We urge organizations to strengthen the cyber skills of their staff, maintain clear visibility and effective control over networks, and establish robust cyber resilience structures to cope," he added.
Conclusion
As AI technologies evolve and cyber threats grow more sophisticated, organizations worldwide are ramping up their investments in cybersecurity to protect their sensitive data and maintain operational resilience. The forecasted increase in spending underscores the urgency for businesses to adapt to the changing threat landscape by investing in advanced security measures, skills development, and strategic consulting services.
